Spring



N. W. AKIIVIOFF.

SPRING.

APPLICATION mep ocT. 5. 1920.

1,428,974@ Patented Sept. 12, 31922.

"` "IJ L Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

UNITED STATES NICHOLAS W. AKIMOFF, OF WYNNEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRING.

l'.Application filed October 5, 1920;' Serial No. 414,730.

T o ally/whom t may concern Be it known that l, NICHOLAS W. AniMorr,

lau citizen `of the 'United States, residing at Wynnewood,in the county of yh/Iontgomery Myinvention relates to springs, and it relates moreparticularly to a spring construction vhaving-means for adjusting the resiliency thereof.

The principal object of my invention Vis to lprovide avspring device of relatively simple and inexpensive 'constructionwhich is so -arrangedthat'the 'resiliency of the spring proper may V.bev readily'and conveniently variedwithin practical limits for various purposes. l

The natureland characteristic `features of my invention-will be more readily understood from the'following description taken `inconnection with the accompanying drawiny s forming'part hereof, in ^which l 4igure 1 is an elevational view of a spring construction embodying the main features k'of my present invention, having means fformingf part thereof for varying its resilshown,"5 is af'helical 'coil spring of usual f type, foneend ofrwhichmay be'squared as atv 6 in thefusual manner, but the other end of which is .formed in the helical curve, the same as the main body portion of the spring. The v end ofthespringl which follows the `helical curve is mounted on a: mandrel 7y made of a plurality of segments and having onv `its external'rsur-face `ay helical `groove S complemental' tothe interior surface of the springV 5, in which groove the coils forming the end ofthe springey are seated,

Thefmandr'el 7 is'provided at al. portion above the helical groove 8 with a circumferential groove 9, in which 4a ring 10 is seated, which ringl() Aserves as akind fof fulcrum orlv hinge to permit desiredl movement ofthe segmentscomposing the mandrel 7 f `with re- =spect to each other, :as will'later: appear.

To further maintain the relative positions vof the fisegments'vcomposingf the Irland-rel 7,

.there may be provided ball dowels 11, seated in complemental recesses 12, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The spaces 26 between the segments composing the mandrel 7 diverge upward and downward from the point adjacent the hinge groove 9, so as to permit the requisite hinge-like motion of the segments composing the mandrel, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The lower interior of the mandrel 7 .is tapered as at 13, and in this tapered portion, there is positioned a tapered plug 1d, which is mounted'fon a spindlel, carried at the lower end of a rotatable member 16. The member 16 is provided with a threaded portion 17 which engages a complementally threaded portion 18 of the interior of the mandrel 7. The member 16 has a frustoconical portion 19 above the threaded portion 17, the surface of which is engaged by overhanging lips'QO of the segments composing the mandrel 7. Above the frustoconical portion 19 yof the member 16 there is provided a `disc portion 21, which serves as a seat for the upper-end of the spring construction, and there may also be provided a central recess 22, which will serve, when vdesired, to position the upper end of the spring construction by means of a suitable teat, not shown, on the struct-ure in connection with which the spring is used. The lower end of the spindle 15 upon which the tapered plug 14 is mounted may be provided with ahead portion 23, which will insure the retraction of the tapered plug 11i when the member 16 is unscrewed with respect to the mandrel 7, or if desired the tapered plug 14 may be made integral with the member 16,

rlhe manner of effecting the adjustment of the resiliency of the spring may now be explained. By -unscrewing the member 16 ,with respect to the mandrel 7 the tapered plug 14 will be retracted in theinterior of the segmental mandrel 7, thus permitting the lower end thereof, which is engaged by the coils ofone end of the spring 5, to be rotated with respect to the spring, retracting or advancing the same asuiiicient distance to release a greater or less extent of the coils of the spring, yafter which the member 16 may -be screwed into the segmental mandrel 7, causing the tapered plug 14 to advance and spread the lower portion of the mandrel 7 lsuliiciently tov tightly grip the ycoils which are seated in the groove 8.

To assist in the manipulation, the upper portion of the mandrel 7 may be provided with holes or recesses 24C, adapted to be eiigaged by a suitable spanner Wrench, and likewise the seat portion 21 of the member 16 may be provided With suitable recesses 25, for the same purpose.

-It will be noted that as the member 16 is unscrewed and thereby retracted Within the mandrel 7, the frusto-conical portion 19 thereof will engage the over hanging lips 20, and thereby insure the contraction of the lower portion of the mandrel 7, and thus release the grip on the coils of the spring which are seated in the groove 8, to permit the adjustment thereof in said groove, as hereinbefore described. It vvill, of course, be understood that the interior threads 18 which are engaged by the threaded portion 17 of member 16 Will be of such dimension and shape as to permit the relative hinge movement of the segments comprising the mandrel 7.

Having thus described the nature and characteristic features of my invention, what I claim as nevi7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A spring device comprising a coil spring, and a mandrel upon which one end of said coil spring is mounted having a helical groove complemental to the interior surface of said coil spring, said mandrel comprising a plurality of segmental sections expandible relatively to each other to thereby securely clamp said spring to said mandrel in adjusted positions.

2. A lspring device comprising a coil spring, a mandrel upon which one end of said coil spring is mounted having a helical groove complemental to the interior surface of said coil spring, said mandrel comprising a plurality of segmental sections ex- -pandible relatively to each other, and an expanding device mounted in said mandrel, the arrangement being such that said spring may be securely clamped to said mandrel in adjusted positions.

3. A spring device comprising a coil spring, a mandrel upon which one end of.

said coil spring is mounted having a helical groove complemental to the interior surface of said coil spring, said mandrel comprisino a plurality of segmental sections hinged relatively to each other, and an expanding device mounted in said mandrel, the arrangement being such that said spring may be securely clamped to said mandrel in ad justed positions.

4. A spring device comprising a coil spring, a mandrel upon which one end of said coil spring is mounted having a helical groove complemental to the interior surface of said coil spring, said mandrel com. prisin a plurality of segmental sections l hinge relative to each other, and an expanding device IILQIARQI. in Said mandrel comprising a tapered plug engaging a complemental interior portion of said mandrel, the arrangement being such that said spring may be securely clamped to said mandrel in adjusted positions.

5. A spring device comprising a coil spring, a mandrel upon which one end of said coil spring is mounted having a helical groove complemental to the interior surface of said coil spring, said mandrel comprising a plurality of segmental sections hinged relatively to each other,y an expanding device mounted in said mandrel comprising a tapered plug engaging a complemental in terior portion of said mandrel, and means for advancing and retractiiig said tapered plug Within said mandrel 'whereby said spring may be securely clamped to said mandrel in adjusted positions.

6. A spring device comprising a coil spring, a mandrel upon-Which one end of said coil spring is mounted having a helical groove complemental to the interior surface of said coil spring, saidmandrel comprising a plurality of segmental sections hinged relatively to each other, an expanding device mounted in said mandrel comprising a tapered plug engaging a complemental ini terior portion of said mandrel, and means for advancing and retracting said tapered plug Within said mandrel comprising a spindle in threaded engagement With said 7. A spring device Vcomprising a coil spring, a mandrel upon which one end of said coil spring is mounted havinga helical groove complemental to the interior surface of said coil spring, said vmandrel comprising a plurality of segmental sections hinged relatively to each other, an expanding device mounted in said mandrel comprising a tapered plugengaging a `complementalinteriorportion of said mandrel, means for ade i a plurality of segmental sections hingedv relatively to each other, an expanding device mounted in said mandrel comprising a tapered plug engaging a, 'f complementalk interior portion of said mandrel, means forv advancing and retracting. said tapered plug Within said mandrel comprising a spindle in threaded engagement With said mandrel, and means for insuring the contraction of said mandrel .vvhen ,said tapered plug is retracted.

9.' A spring device comprising (a coil spring, a mandrel upon Which one end of iso said coil spring is mounted having a helical groove complemental to the interior surface of said coil spring, said mandrel comprising a. plurality of segmental sections hinged relatively to each other, an expanding device mounted in said mandrel comprising a tapered plug engaging a complemental interior portion of said mandrel, means for advancing and retracting said tapered plug Within said mandrel comprising a spindle in threaded engagement with said mandrel, and means for insuring the contraction of said mandrel when said tapered plug is retracted comprising a truste-conical portion of said threaded spindle and complemental portions of the mandrel adapted to be engaged by said frusto-conical portion.

l0. A spring device comprising a coil spring, a mandrel upon which one end of said coil spring is mounted, said mandrel comprising a plurality of segmental sections hinged relatively to each other, and an expanding device mounted in said mandrel comprising a tapered plug engaging a complemental interior portion of said mandrel, whereby said spring may be securely clamped to said mandrel in adjusted positions.

1l. A spring device comprising a coil spring, a mandrel upon Which one end of said coil spring is mounted, said mandrel comprising a plurality of segmental sections hinged relatively to each other, and an eX- panding device mounted in said mandrel, whereby said spring may be securely clamped to said mandrel in adjusted positions.

12. A spring device comprising a coil spring, a mandrel upon which one end of said coil spring is mounted, said mandrel comprising a plurality of segmental sections hinged relatively to each other, and an eX- panding device mounted in said mandrel, the hinge connecting said segmental sections comprising a ring member mounted in a circumstantial groove in said mandrel.

13. A spring device comprising a coil spring, a mandrel upon Which one end of said coil spring is mounted, said mandrel comprising a plurality of segmental sections hinged relatively to each other, and an expanding device mounted in said mandrel, the hinge connecting said segmental sections comprising a ring member mounted in a circumferential groove in said mandrel, and doivels mounted in recesses in adjacent surfaces of said segmental sections.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto signed my name.

NICHOLAS W. AKIMOFF. 

